The Heartwood Box: A Fairy Tale (8 page)

The priestess was not cowed in the slightest
.
“Damian forced things today with her, Declan, rather than let her affections grow naturally over the week.”

“Damian?” Declan asked.

Damian bowed his head
.
“Genevieve hides nothing, sire
.
I did what you suggested, and I don’t know how to explain it
—
she submitted to me instinctively, as if she has no ability resist
.
I couldn’t help myself.”

“And because she couldn’t resist, her rights were ignored
.
This is her
Bridal Week
!” t
he priestess said angrily
.
“I’ll tell you bluntly, Declan, I don’t think this promises well for how he’ll treat her once they’re married
,
and
she’s completely in his power!”

“I agree, he should have waited
—
it was selfish
.
But you mustn’t be too hard on Damian
.
There isn’t a male in our family who would have acted differently
—
the instinct to claim is too strong
.
And Maura, just because Damian was selfish doesn’t mean he was also wrong
.
You and I go through this every time one of mine claims a bride
.
What you, her parents,
or
ev
en the girl herself believe
s
is ‘right’
or
‘
best
’
for her is irrelevant
.
Ultimately, it comes down to whether you trust the
heartwood
.
The girl
belongs with us, and the sooner Damian can claim her, the better
—
for her.”

No one had an immediate response to this, and they all sipped their tea in silence for a minute, when Damian found the courage to
mention
something that had bothered him
.
“Holy
O
ne, Genevieve said something at the picnic
—
she spoke of troubles
and
said she fe
ared a demon lived inside her.”

“Suddenly worried she might not be the docile lamb you thought
?
Maybe you shouldn’t have forced things with her then,” she said crossly.

“Maura,” Declan warned.

She sighed and then went and fetched a basket that s
at near the kitchen
door
.
“Decla
n, I would have you see this.”
She pulled out the shawl that Genevieve had left behind at the picnic
.
“All the girls weave one for the
Bridal Week
—
this is Genevieve’s
.”

Declan examined it carefully, taking in the strange, chaotic design
.
Finally he said, “Thank you for showing me this, Maura.”

“Genevieve is troubled
.
S
he suffers terribly from dark thoughts, fits of temper followed by uncontrollable despair
.
She has spent the last few years hiding from the world.”

Declan took the tiny woman’s hand
and
said feelingly, “We owe you much for setting aside your own doubts and doing your best to help Damian’s cause
.
You may put those fears to rest, however, Maura.”

Damian
knelt
and
said, “I know what you did for
us, and I am truly grateful.”

“Take care of her, Damian
.
She has had a hard journey
.
She deserves some happiness.”

“
From the moment her box changed, my son’s first duty became his bride’s happiness
.
Y
ou may trust him
.”
Declan
kissed her cheek
.
“I will keep this,” he
added
, picking up Genevieve’s shawl
.

When the two of them were outside,
Declan
gripped Damian in a strong hug.

“You’re not angry, sire?”

“No,”
Declan said. “I spoke
the
truth
—
not one of us could have held back.” 

Damian wanted to faint with relief
.
Somehow he had gotten through the
most dangerous
part; he’d won his lady, reconciled her parents, soothed the priestess,
and even
managed to introduce Derek to his in-laws
.
All that was left was to introduce Genevieve to her new family
.
Declan and Donal would be simple enough
.
Derek
…
wa
s a problem for another day.

“Make time to visit Titania’s Altar
.
Her priestess
did you great service today.”

“I know she did
.
I promise I will tomorrow.”

“It is traditional to unlock the bride’s
heartwood
box immediately after the ceremony
.
I will be present.”

Damian was unprepared for the explosion of
primal
possessiveness set off by Declan’s words
.
“My bride’s box is given to
my
keeping
!
  N
o man but I will look within it!
”

“You are no boy to reject aid when it is offered!” Declan said fiercely
.
“You with your vast experience in these matters! 
You are a Black
.
You would risk your bride’s happin
ess over a childish jealousy?”

“My apologies, sire,”
he said
,
lowering his gaze
.
An
unbearable idea arose
.
“Do you have some reservation about Genevieve?” 

Declan turned on him in surprise
.
“Of course not, but you are not ready for every challenge. You need not face them alone
—
you will not, for both your sakes
.
Never doubt that you have been blessed in her, Damian.” 

Genevieve awoke with the heaviness that accompanies an unusually long sleep
.
She had no memory of coming to bed
and
couldn’t fathom why she was wearing only her shift instead of her nightdress
.
An instinct warned her that it had something to do with Damian Black and their strange scene in the
wood
.

Suddenly she needed to know what had happened
.
She threw a robe over
her shift
and went to the door, only to discover that she was locked in
.
She shook the handle loudly until
the door
was opened by a young man who looked so much like Damian
,
he could only be another member of the Black family
.
One of the chairs from the parlor had been placed outside the door
.
He stood in the door, blocking her from leaving, a warm smile on his face
.
“Genevieve, you’re awake
.
I’ll tell Damian.” 

“Who are you?” she asked
.

“I am Donal, his bro
ther
.
Wait in your room, sweet
heart
.
Damian will come for you in a few minutes.” 

And with that, he shut the door again and locked it
.

Genevieve plumped down on the edge of her bed, so astonished she couldn’t even feel angry
.
As promised, a few minutes later, she heard the key in the lock, and Damian entered without knocking
.
He shut the door behind him
.
“Did you sleep well, love?” 

“Damian
,
what’s happening
?
Why is your brother sitting outside my door?”

“My brothers arrived after you fell asleep, and your parents kindly invited all of us to stay here.”

Genevieve wondered that her mother would agree to host three young men
—
where on earth would they put them
?
Then she looked up at Damian suspiciously
.
“Why was the door locked?”

Damian gripped her shoulders gently
.
“Y
our box changed color, Genevieve, which means you’re mine, my responsibility
.
It makes no difference that we
’re
not married yet
.
It is very important that I know at all times where you are.”

“So I must be locked in?”

“Yes, you must, and you must not argue with me about it, darling.” 

He took her chin and tilted her head up so she met his eye
.
He waited until she made a small nod
and
then lifted her off her feet and kissed her warmly on the lips
.
“Good girl
.
Now get dressed
.
There’s much to do today.” 

He looked almost giddy with joy, and Genevieve couldn’t help but share it
.
She reached up and touched his face, this man who would be her husband
.

His gaze softened
and
on a
n
unexpected impulse, she leaned in and touched her lips to his
.
“This is real,” she murmured half to herself
.
“It’s really happening.” 

“Yes it is,” he rasped,
holding her at arm’s length
.
“I’d best go
.
Don’t be long, darling.” 

It was still her
Bridal Week
, even if her box had changed
.
All of her old clothes had been packed away in traveling trunks, and inside her wardrobe were only
newly made
items, every one
in
white
.
At the far end, carefully wrapped, was the wedding dress that she and her mother had worked on over the past year
.

Genevieve chose a simple linen dress with a boat neck, three-quarter sleeves, and wide inverted pleats down the front
.
I
t was the one they’d intended for a day of outdoor games and was the plainest of the bunch
.
She dressed quickly
and
went to open the door, only to realize it was still locked
.
She tapped hesitantly, though it seemed foolish that she must ask to leave her own room
.
Donal was still outside
.

He stood still for a moment staring at her
and
then said in a rapt tone, “I’ve never seen anything so lovely.” 

She patted her skirts shyly, not sure how to respond
.

Then he winked and said,
“I’m sure you need to use the convenience
.
”

It took Genevieve a moment to take in what he’d just said, at which point her jaw dropped
.

Donal led her to the small room that held a water closet
.
She was too stunned to protest, so she went in and took care of her needs
.

He was still outside when she came out again
.
“The family is at breakfast
.
May I have the honor?”
h
e
said, holding out his arm
.

Genevieve just stared at him
.
Were
all men like
this
?
When she didn’t answer, he gave her an
innocent smile
and grabbed her arm
and led her downsta
irs to the small dining room.

Damian and another young man were already at the table along with her mother
.
Both
men
stood
the moment she entered
.
Damian put his hand on her back and guided her in
.
“Darling, may
I present my brother, Derek.”